A story from freshman orientation

If we can't have a muffin and a coffee together...we're doomed. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ {NAME}, I wanted to share a story with you from a few weeks back. When I was completing my first week of freshman orientation, I noticed that new members ate meals together along party lines. Incoming Democrats and Republicans were only sitting with members of their own party. So I walked up to a table of a couple of my new, more moderate Republican colleagues, sat down, and started chatting. I said to them, “If we can't have a muffin and a coffee together, then we're doomed.” There was definitely some initial awkwardness at the table. But later in the week, many of the folks I had breakfast with sought me out to tell me they appreciated what I was trying to do. During my work in the Vermont legislature, I built a blueprint for collaboration and connection that allowed me to deliver meaningful legislation alongside people whose political leanings are very different from my own – without sacrificing my core values. I strongly believe that you have to be willing to meet people where they’re at – starting with keeping the conversation focused on shared values. There is always a way to reach out to people and find a shared connection. I don’t expect the culture in Washington to change overnight. But I’m excited to get to work and see what difference I can make – and I’m proud to have you with me on this journey. If you support the new approach to politics I’ll be bringing to Washington with me this January, then please: [Pitch in $5 or more before tonight’s deadline to help us finish the year strong. Together, we’re going to do big things in 2023.]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [$5]( [$15]( [$27]( [$50]( [$100]( [More]( Thank you so much for all of your support this year, {NAME}. I'll talk to you in the new year! Becca Balint --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook Link]( [Twitter Link]( [Instagram Link]( Becca believes the best thoughts are not always from the loudest voices in the room. As President Pro Tem of the Vermont State Senate, she's led the charge to invest in affordable housing, fight climate change, enshrine reproductive freedom into our state's constitution, and so much more. Now, she's running for Congress to have a greater impact on more Vermonters. If you'd like to receive fewer emails and only see our most important updates, [click here.]( [DONATE]( If you'd rather not stay up to date with Becca's work, you can [unsubscribe](. If you prefer to contribute by check, you are welcome to send a contribution to the campaign at the address below. To comply with Federal law, we must use our best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 per election cycle. Thank you in advance for including that information along with your check. Paid for by Becca Balint for Vermont, P.O. Box 291, Burlington, VT, 05402